Steaming device for steaming the tips or boxes and vamps of boots and shoes.



G. M. FITZPAT RIGK. STEAMING DEVICE FOR STEAMING THE TIPS 0B BOXES AND VAMPS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES APPLIOATIOH FILED [AI 2, 1914.

.Attornev Ffa.

.or vamp, while the shoe is mursn s'rafrns OFFICE.

GEORGEv M. FITZPATRICK, OF MILFORD, llrifrSSACHUSETTS, ASSIQNDB 0F ONE-HALE 'TO JQHN J. FULLY, GE TIIILFQRI), MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAMING DEVI-on nos. szrriamir-io THE on. BOXES viassss or BOOTS AND serous.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnonor: M. Fi'rmra'u RICK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lililiord, county of \Vorcester, State of ivlassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Steaming Devices "for Steaming the Tips or Boxes and Vamps oi Boots and Shoes, of \vhicli the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like char" acters on the drawing representing like parts.

In the maiiufactm'e of boots and shoesit .ucces' ry to soften or make pliable the ma tcrial or stock that cmnprises the box, (commonly called the box toe), and the Vamps. Various means have been devised for making pliable this material, involving the erection of a. separate steaming device, in which steam is conducted, and the placing Within of that part of sought to be made plia le, thereby necessr toting a separate motion or operation, compolling the operator to handle the shoe two or more times. waiting until the steaming device accomplishes its function, removing the shoe therefrom and then proceeding with the next operation.

My present invention has for-its object the production of simple, novel and means for softening and making pliable the stock or material that comprises the box, toe in the machine upon which the operator is working, enabling the operator to soften the stock in question While operating on another part of the shoe.

, In accordance with my invention the oporator places the shoe in a heel and toe lasting machine for the purpose of lasting the heel and toe, and while operating on the heel, commonly called the heel-scat, by my invention he is enabled to soften and make liable the stock in question, commonly called steamingthetoe, at the same time; and when he'finishes his operation on the heelseat, by means of my invention, the tee is then in condition to enable him to imme diately last the too.

I believe that it is a distinct novelty in the process of making, boots and shoes, to apply softening means to the toe portion to prepare the toe and box for the lasting operation, hile permitting. simultaneously, the

Specificationof Letters Patent.

the shoe containing the stock eiiicient.

Patented Mar. 15, 1915.

Application filed May 2, 1.914. Serial No. 835344.

operator to Work at some other operation on the shoe. My novel process thus is a great time saver, and furthermore, When employed in the shoe lasting machines such as the well-known Chase raster or Ideal 'laster, or No. 5- bed laster, the box toe can be subl ected to the softening operation im-- n'iediately preceding lasting of the toe and during thelasting of the heel. The apparatus for carrying out this. process, however, is ndt limited to use with any one type of machine, nor, merely, with lasting ma chines, but lends itself readily to cooperate with several different shoe machines and it will readily occur to'those skilled in che'art to use the same in connection with many other shoe machines, Where a softening or tempering is requisite.

The apparatus herein illustrated constitutes a preferred form for carrying out the process, and also includes a novel form of steam separator, but neither the process above briefly outlined, nor the particular type of steam separator is herein claimed specifically, the subject matter thereof being 1 9 reserveu for other applications, this applioat'ion being directed to the applying or spraymg apparatus.

The various novel features of my invention Will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out inthe following claims.

Figure 1, is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2-, is a View of the top of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Inthe drawings, A represents a steam conveying pipe with a regulating valve B, and C is a pipe conducting steam from the regulating valve B, into a steam separator having chambers D, and F, formed by means of a partition Q, substantially as shown in Fi 1. A passage E is provided from the chamber D, to the chamber F, a short distance from the bottom of the separator, around the end of the partition Q.

\Vhen the steam enters the chamber D, it contains more or less moisture and this moisture when it strikes the partition Q, drops to the bottom of the separator, there condensing and collecting in a pipe M, from whence it mav be drained, by opening the valve N, to the waste pipe 0. The dry steam flows on through the passage E, and

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rectly to the and 'a steam tight by the @ai'elqng nut L. A second swivel joint J, ceag ects the applying form K, with the pipe Ijsahfl'tliishpplying form K is perforated *on" lower side with several small holes thrbugh which the steam is conveyed dipart of the shoe desired to be softened, usually the toe and vamp.

My device may be fastened ma frame of the'machine on which the operator is working, or other support, by means of bolts or screws through holes S, and by means of the swivel int G, and the tube H, and the adjutabl'e maller tube I, sliding back and forthjnto tube H, and by the steam ioiift L, and by a handle R, wl' manently afiixed to a part of swivel joint J, the operator is enabled to more conveniently turn the form K, into any desired position while the shoe is in the machine upon which he is operating, thereby applying it to the box toe, or vamp thereof, and conveying fie steam to the box toe or vamp, softening the same, and making it pliable while the operator is simultaneously lasting the heel seat.

If desired interchangeable parts K, of suitable form may be provided, varying in size in accordance with the varying sizes of thework sought to be soften d.

I prefer to form this app ying or spraying member K of substantially u-shaped form, so ass-to supply the tempering steam to the box toe portion of the shoe around substantially its entire periphery, thus enabling the steam ,to impinge at'a plurality of points on the toe portion at a uniform temperature,,and force, from which points it flows over the whole toe. The greater softness, however, is necessary at the edge portion, where the upper material, leather, lining, and box, are-lasted and pleated or pulled over the edge of the insole in the subsequent toe. lasting operation, and this edge portion is therefore treated to the greater softening action.

' It will be noted that a cover is shown in Fig. 1, affixed tothe separator by the screws P, and this is made steam tight by sheet packing T, shown in Fig. 2, the top view of the invention; or in any other suitable manner. a

The construction and operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken-in connection with the dra wv ings audit will be seen that the box toe or vamp is softened and made pliable in an easy and efficient manner, while the opera- 'ber adapted to supply moistening steam to the toe portion of a boot or shoe, preparatory to lasting, including a steam separator, a Ushaped perforated tubular applying member and a. swivel joint connection between said steam separator and said applying member.

2. An apparatus of the kind described, adapted to be mounted in combination with a lasting machine, comprising means to apply tempering and moistening steam to the toe portion of a boot or shoe, preparatory to lasting, including a steam separator, a U- shaped perforated tubular applying'memher and a swivel joint connection from said steam separator to said applying member, whereby said applying member may be swung into position to operate on the toe portion of a shoe in said lasting machine,

3. An apparatus of the kind described, adapted to be mounted in combinationwith a lasting machine, comprising adjustable means arranged to be mounted upon a lasting machine to supply steam to the toe portion of a shoe in said lasting machine, comprising a U-shaped member to fit about the toe portion, and a swivel and extensible joint connection between said U-shaped member and a source of steam supply.

In an apparatus of the kind described, means to supply tempering and moistening 100 steam to the toe portion of a boot or shoe preparatory to lasting, consisting of a U- shaped perforated tubular applying memheatedfiuid to soften the edge portion of the shoe upper materials 10 about the toe, and mechanism to permit said applying tool to be swung into or out of op-. erative position with relation to the shoe.

An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a removable member, shaped to fit the shoes being op erated upon, and adapted to supply steam to the toe portion of a boot or shoe prepara tory to lasting, a steam separator to dry steam to be supplied to said applying mem- 1 GEORGE M. FITZPATRICK.

Witnesses;

MAURICE J. QUINLAN, JOHN KELLY.

U-shapedapplying 

